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David Pastrnak's agent comments on rumours of rift between his client and Bruins' GM Don Sweeney

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TJ Tucker
June 8, 2022  (2:21 PM)
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With the Boston Bruins firing coach Bruce Cassidy this week, rumours have been circulating that some players are unhappy with the way things are going in Beantown. First, Patrice Bergeron flatly denied rumours that he had a hand in Cassidy being fired. Then, Fluto Shinzawa, who covers the Bruins for The Athletic, quoted a source he said was close to star David Pastrnak as saying Pastrnak was unhappy with how general manager Don Sweeney handled the departures of Torey Krug in 2020 and David Krecji in 2021, and would not re-sign with the team in 2022-23 if Sweeney remained. That would leave Boston to decide whether to trade away a core piece of the team or let him walk as a free agent.

"88 had seen how Don has treated his two best friends," Shinzawa quoted the source as saying. "No chance he comes back with Sweens as GM."

Since the article came out, the Boston Herald contacted Pastrnak's agent J.P. Barry to set the record straight. Barry said the trade rumours are unfounded and he has no idea how this whole thing got started.

"I spoke with Don and David this morning and we don't know where this report emanated from," said Berry. "We both have a solid relationship with Don and the plan hasn't changed one bit. We will sit down in July and begin extension negotiations."

Pastrnak, 26, will play the final year of a very team-friendly contract that had him at a cap hit of $6.7 million annually. There's no question Pastrnak can get more elsewhere, most likely a lot more. However, he took a team-friendly deal once and there's little to indicate he wouldn't do it again if Boston is where he wants to play.